Inflatable air plenum for a suspended ceiling system

ABSTRACT

Suspended ceiling systems are often made with the area between the structural ceiling and the suspended ceiling being an air plenum. Herein the air plenum is constituted by placing an inflatable membrane over top of the suspended ceiling. The membrane is sealed around the edge of the suspended ceiling and has inlet and outlet openings for supplying and taking air away from the suspended ceiling system. The inflatable plenum membrane in effect forms an air chamber above the suspended ceiling.

United States Patent [1 1 Hazeley 51 July 1, 1975 I INFLATABLE AIR PLENUM FOR A SUSPENDED CEILING SYSTEM [75] Inventor: James E. Hazeley, Lancaster. Pa.

[73] Assignee: Armstrong Cork Company,

Lancaster, Pa.

[22] Filed: Mar. 15, I974 [21] Appl. No.: 451,342

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 189,508, Oct. l5, I971,

3,252,400 5/1966 Madl, Jr. 98/40 DL 3,363,532 l/l968 Horneff o 98/40 D X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,206,349 9/l970 United Kingdom 98/40 D Primary Examiner-William E. Wayner [57] ABSTRACT Suspended ceiling systems are often made with the area between the structural ceiling and the suspended ceiling being an air plenum. Herein the air plenum is constituted by placing an inflatable membrane over top of the suspended ceiling. The membrane is sealed around the edge of the suspended ceiling and has inlet and outlet openings for supplying and taking air away from the suspended ceiling system. The inflatable plenum membrane in effect forms an air chamber above the suspended ceiling.

1 Claim, 1 Drawing Figure Mir-1m n JUL 1 ms 3. 892. l 70 WI ZFIPAIIEIEEI 5112mm INVENTOR JAMES E. HAZELEY w Q BY LIN/Q9.

ATTORNEY 1 INFLATABLE AIR PLENUM FOR A SUSPENDED CEILING SYSTEM CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 189,508, filed Oct. I5, 197], now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention is directed to a suspended ceiling system and, more particularly, to a suspended ceiling system with air flow features.

2. Description of the Prior Art US. Pat. No. 3,333,524 is typical of conventional ceiling structures today wherein the structural ceiling 21 and the suspended ceiling 27 form therebetween an air plenum. Air comes in through an entrance opening 33 into the plenum and then flows down through the perforated ceiling tiles into the rooms below the suspended ceiling. If a freely suspended ceiling structure were utilized, isolated from the side walls or the distance between the suspended ceiling and the structural ceiling were excessively large, the plenum type structure as shown in the abovementioned patent would not be practical.

The use of inflatable buildings is old in the art. Often the air that is used to inflate the buildings is also used to provide the heating and cooling to the area within the building. In all cases to date, the membrane of the inflatable building has been used as the wall and ceiling structure for the inflated building.

Herein, a suspended ceiling system is provided with an inflatable membrane covering so that the air plenum is now defined as the area between the inflatable membrane and the suspended ceiling system. This provides a unique combination not heretofore seen in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention consists of an inflatable membrane of some suitable impermeable material such as polyethylene or Mylar. The membrane is installed like a bag or umbrella over the suspended ceiling system. It is sealed to the perimeter of the ventilating area of the suspended ceiling system and is made of a size sufficient that when inflated it would enclose the volume of air necessary for the efficient operation of the ventilating ceiling. The membrane is pierced only by the necessary supply and return air ducts, service conduits, etc., as may be required and by such suspension members as may be necessary to hold the suspended ceiling system in position. Naturally, seals are provided where these above elements penetrate or pierce the membrane. Inflation of the membrane occurs only when conditioned air is supplied to the plenum through the air supply system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The sole FIGURE of the drawing is a side view, partly open, of the suspended ceiling system of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawing, there is shown a conventional suspended ceiling system 2 which is composed of inverted T-shaped support runners 4. On the flanges 6 of the inverted T-support bars, there are positioned ventilating acoustical panels 8. These panels 8 have perforations 10 which permit the passage of air either from the area above the suspended ceiling system to the area below or vice versa. Normally, however, air flow is from above the suspended ceiling system into the area below the suspended ceiling system. The plurality of suspension wires 11 are fastened to the upper portion of the T support bars 4 and are fastened to some portion of the structure above the suspended ceiling system so as to support the suspended ceiling system in position. In the embodiment shown, a supply or surface duct 12 is fed into the region centrally of the suspended ceiling system. A ring 14 is fastened to the supply duct, and the suspension wires 11 are fastened thereto. Basically, the suspension cables are fastened to some structural portion of the main building structure so as to hold the suspended ceiling in position.

An inflatable membrane 16 is provided in an overlying relationship over the suspended ceiling system 2. The inflatable membrane is an impermeable material such as polyethylene or Mylar of about 2 to It) mils in thickness. This membrane is fastened around its edge to the peripheral edge 18 of the suspended ceiling system. This fastening may be accomplished by any number of different conventional means. Tape can be used to form an air-tight seal of the membrane to the suspended ceiling system. Mechanical clamping structures are available and could be used or even an adhesive seal could be utilized. The important thing is that the edge of the membrane be sealed to the edge of the ceiling system to prevent the escaping of the air through the joint structure. In the embodiment shown, the service conduit IZ passes into the center portion of the membrane and there would be a sea] at that point between the service supply duct and the membrane. Therein is shown the ideal condition wherein only one penetration is made into the membrane to provide all the necessary air, electrical and telephone wiring that may be necessary. However, it is possible that a plurality of penetrations could be made into the membrane; the major point to remember is that each time something pierces the membrane, a seal must be provided at that point to prevent the escape of air at the point where the membrane passes around the pentrating item.

The air supply unit provides air to the plenum area which is defined by the membrane and the suspended ceiling system. When air is supplied into this plenum area, the membrane is inflated to a size which is such as will permit efficient operation of the ventilating system of the ceiling. Air will flow from the air inlet service, herein this would be service duct 12, into the plenum area and then down through the perforations 10 of the acoustical ventilating ceiling 8 into the area below the suspended ceiling system. In a system of this type, normally air return registers would be provided centrally in the wall of one of the rooms. It is possible that a conventional air bar system could be utilized wherein the air is fed to a plurality of individual air bar distributors within the ceiling system and the return air is fed back into the plenum area and then out of the plenum area through an air return system to another area where the air would be recycled and serviced.

What is claimed is:

1. In a suspended ceiling system wherein a support network is provided for supporting a plurality of ceiling components which constitute the suspended ceiling plenum area into the area below the suspended ceiling system by passing through the components of the suspended ceiling system, and an air inlet duct means for air and utility services positioned above the ceiling system and passing into the impermeable membrane, said air and utility inlet duct means having fastened thereto the means which supports the suspended ceiling system so as to hold the suspended ceiling in position supported by the inlet duct means alone. 

1. In a suspended ceiling system wherein a support network is provided for supporting a plurality of ceiling components which constitute the suspended ceiling system, said ceiling components being able to pass air from the area above the suspended ceiling system to the area below the suspended ceiling system, said suspended ceiling system being supported from the structure of a building, the improvement consisting of an impermeable membrane being placed over the suspended ceiling system, said membrane being sealed to the peripheral edge of the suspended ceiling system to define an air impermeable plenum chamber above the suspended ceiling system whereby air may be pRovided to the plenum area of a controlled size and then from the plenum area into the area below the suspended ceiling system by passing through the components of the suspended ceiling system, and an air inlet duct means for air and utility services positioned above the ceiling system and passing into the impermeable membrane, said air and utility inlet duct means having fastened thereto the means which supports the suspended ceiling system so as to hold the suspended ceiling in position supported by the inlet duct means alone. 